ANCHOR GOAL 1

100% of students
will graduate ready for
college or career.

For the third year in a row, Philadelphia’s public school graduation rate has continued to increase. Now, we’re focused on accelerating this trend.

To make sure all students can graduate ready for college or a career, we instituted 9th grade academies in all of our high schools. Academies welcome students to high school and provide individualized support to plan and track their successful path to graduation.

2017 Achievements

Philadelphia public high schools improved their graduation rates, some by double digits.

Certifications earned by CTE students qualifying them for post-graduation jobs.

2018 Priorities

Equip every high school student with the knowledge, skills, and experiences to graduate on time and succeed in post-secondary opportunities.

Ensuring Success in High School

Tamika Jones-Tabbs, College/Career Coordinator, South Philadelphia High School

As high school freshmen, students meet new classmates, adjust to new teachers, and face new academic expectations.

To support successful transitions to high school, all 9th grade students can participate in Outward Bound to build friendships and experiences that show them how to trust themselves and one another.

For the rest of the year, the Outward Bound students are more confident, more ready to learn, and more excited to conquer challenges that lie ahead.

“At the start of the course, I was nervous, but then everyone cheered me on.

Now I’m fearless.”

—Markell Ferguson, 9th Grader South Philadelphia High School

Launching Careers

Our Career and Technical Education programs offer challenging academic content leading to industry-recognized credentials or certificates along with a high school diploma, giving our students an edge in college and career-building job applications.

ANCHOR GOAL 3
100% of positions are filled by great principals, teachers and employees.

ANCHOR GOAL 4
100% of funding for great schools is secured with zero deficit.

Educational Equity

We will achieve educational equity when all students have the resources to graduate ready to succeed as fully engaged citizens of the world.

Even as institutionalized barriers and inequitable funding persist, we continue to expand equity, increase opportunity, and create national best practices so that all children can recognize and reach their full potential.

Educational Equity
2017 Achievements

All students and their families were informed about opportunities for Advanced Placement classes and options for high school, including neighborhood, charter, competitive admission, and career and technical education.

All high school students were given free access to PSAT/SAT practice tests and individualized college-prep tools.

All K-2 students’ attendance and learning were further supported by ending school suspensions.

All 2nd graders were tested for gifted potential, using more culturally-competent tools.